Sewa (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note
Exam code: 8062
What is sewa?
Sewa means selfless service or helping others without expecting anything in return
It is a core Sikh duty and a way to live out the values of equality, humility and compassion
Sewa is a way of life for many Sikhs and is part of their daily routine
Sikhism teaches that sewa is an act of service towards Waheguru (God) and therefore must be done regularly if a person is to become closer to Waheguru
It helps Sikhs become gurmukh and show their faith towards Waheguru
“One who performs selfless service, without thought of reward, shall attain liberation.” (Guru Granth Sahib)
How do Sikhs perform sewa?
Sikhs perform sewa in a variety of ways, such as helping the sangat and the local community
Many Sikhs perform much of their sewa by helping at the gurdwara, including cleaning, washing dishes or serving in the langar
There are three types of sewa within Sikhism:
Tan
Man
Dhan
Tan (physical service)
Tan is when Sikhs use their bodies to help others
Examples of tan include:
Cooking and serving in the langar (free community kitchen)
Cleaning the Gurdwara (Sikh temple)
Helping people who are in desperate need
Man (mental service)
Man relates to using the mind or skills to support others
Examples of this include:
Teaching or reading the Guru Granth Sahib
Offering emotional support
Studying Sikh scriptures and helping others learn
Dhan (material service)
Dhan is linked to giving money or possessions to help others
Examples of this include:
Donating to charities
Supporting the Gurdwara or humanitarian causes
Why is performing sewa important for Sikhs?
There are many reasons why performing sewa is important to Sikhs
It demonstrates belief in equality and the importance of all people
By serving others, Sikhs show humility
Serving others shows that Sikhs do not believe they are better than anyone else
Showing love and respect by helping others shows love for Waheguru
It helps Sikhs to become more gurmukh
It gives them an opportunity to develop the virtues of truth and truthful living, compassion, patience, contentment, self-control, love, wisdom and courage
It stops Sikhs from becoming manmukh, as their focus is on the needs of others rather than on themselves
It helps Sikhs move away from the five vices of anger, pride, lust, greed and attachment to material possessions
Worked Example
Give two examples of how someone might show sewa
[2 marks]
Answer:
Sikhs might cook and serve in the langar [1 mark]
They might provide support or financial aid to those suffering from poverty [1 mark]
Examiner Tips and Tricks
For this section, make sure you understand what sewa is
Know the definition: selfless service done without expecting reward
Remember the three types:
Tan — physical (e.g. cleaning, serving food)
Man — mental (e.g. reading scripture, teaching)
Dhan — material (e.g. donating to charity)
Try to link your responses to Sikh beliefs
Connect sewa to key Sikh principles, such as:
equality — all people are worthy of service
humility — sewa helps overcome ego (haumai)
Seva as worship — serving others is a way to serve Waheguru
mukti — liberation can be achieved through selfless service
Use key quotes or teachings (for 5- or 12-mark answers)
Try to memorise one short quote, such as:
“One who performs selfless service, without thought of reward, shall attain liberation.” (Guru Granth Sahib)
Even a paraphrase is acceptable in exams if you can’t recall it word-for-word
Try to refer to practical examples of sewa:
Working in the langar
Cleaning the Gurdwara
Teaching others about Sikhism
Donating to the community or global causes
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